Volunteers Needed to Make Cards for Soldiers
Each year, thousands of military members and their families spend the holiday season alone and apart from loved ones. The Monmouth Museum and the American Red Cross – Jersey Coast Chapter are asking for volunteers of all ages to make cards with kind messages to show gratitude for their service.
Volunteers can go to the Museum’s Green Arts Studio, which will have all the materials necessary to create cards that will be sent to military members by the Red Cross.
The Holiday Mail for Heroes special program will run through Saturday, Nov. 30, to allow time for the Red Cross to process the cards and send them on to heroes all over the world.
The goal is to make at least 500 cards by the month’s end.
The Green Arts Studio is located in the Becker Children’s Wing of the Monmouth Museum, on the campus of Brookdale Community College on Newman Springs Road in Lincroft. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday but hours vary so volunteers are asked to call the museum at 732-747-2266 or visit its website at monmouthmuseum.org before going there.
There is a $7 per person admission fee to the museum, which includes entrance to all galleries. Active-duty servicemen, servicewomen and their families receive free admission benefits to the Monmouth Museum through the Blue Star Museum program.
The Monmouth Museum, a “Museum of Ideas, “ offers changing exhibitions and educational programs on art, science, nature and history for visitors of all ages. The museum serves as a center for education and culture and is one of the largest private museums in New Jersey.
The American Red Cross – Jersey Coast Chapter works with military families at the Joint Base in Burlington County that deploys soldiers to bases all over the world. The American Red Cross’ unwavering commitment to members of the U.S. military, its veterans and their families continues to grow and develop more than a century after Clara Barton first recruited nurses to support the U.S. Army. For more information, please visit redcross.org.
COLTS NECK
The 14th annual Colts Neck Friends of the Library Fine Art Show and Sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7-8 and Dec.14-15 at the library at 1 Winthrop Road.
The event provides an opportunity to see the talent that abounds in the area and do some one-of-a-kind holiday shopping. With a great selection of artists and styles to choose from, there will be plenty of pieces to suit any décor. Prices vary on watercolors, oil paintings and hand thrown pottery and wood carvings, with 20 percent of each purchase going to support the Colts Neck Library.
A meet the artists at the opening reception will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. Refreshments with wine will be provided by 4JGs Winery located in Colts Neck.
This year’s event co-chairs are local artists Mil Wexler-Kobrinski and Eileen Petruch.
Additional exhibition viewing times can be arranged by appointment.
HOLMDEL
The 2013 Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair will be held Thursday, Dec. 5, at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, 1 Memorial Lane.
Employer registration begins at 8 a.m. and veteran registration at 8:30 a.m. The chamber employment workshop will begin at 9 a.m. and the job fair will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The workshop will include resume writing, searching for jobs online, military experience leveraging, mock interviews and networking.
The hiring event is being hosted by the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation and the American Legion, and is being conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation; NJ Committee, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR); state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; state Department of Labor and Workforce Development; the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (DOL VETS); the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; state Parole Board; NBC News, and other local partners.
Veterans and their spouses are encouraged to take advantage of this event.
Answers to registration questions are available by contacting hiringourheroes@uschamber.com or calling 202-463-5807.
Additional information about the job fair is available at www.hiringourheros.org.
LITTLE SILVER
Red Bank Regional High School (RBR), through its Education Foundation, has observed a tradition of honoring its most distinguished alumni for more than a decade.
Students celebrate their lives in prose and music at a special ceremony and luncheon reception. The school is seeking nominations from the public for this worthy honor that will take place Friday, April 25, at the high school.
Nominees need to have attended RBR or its predecessor, Red Bank High School, at least 15 years ago. They should be role models to young people, have distinguished themselves in their careers and/or served their communities with honor and significant commitment.
All nominations should be sent to Debbie Orrigo, RBR administrative assistant, by emailing to dorrigo@rbrhs.org, calling 732-842-8000, ext. 1240, or writing to her at the Red Bank Regional School District, 101 Ridge Road, Little Silver NJ 07739.
If possible, please include contact information for the nominee, including address, phone number, and email address.
The deadline for nominations is Monday, Dec. 2.
MIDDLETOWN
Tickets for Middletown’s annual Holiday Train Ride, which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14, are now on sale.
The train rides are available at either 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. The trip features visits from Santa and friends, jugglers, holiday caroling, clowns, magic and goodie bags. Trains leave from and return to the Middletown train station.
Tickets currently are on sale for $15 each. The ride is free for children younger than age 1, but a ticket is still required. Registrants will be assigned a specific car on the train at the time of registration. It is highly recommended that, if different families want to sit together, everyone register early and at the same time. Preregistration is required.
Tickets can only be purchased in person at the recreation office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted.
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The public is invited to the 13th annual “United We Sing-Music of Gratitude” celebration at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 1475 W. Front St., Lincroft.
The intercultural service of music, word and dance presents voices of different faiths raised in joy and gratitude.
Sponsored by the Monmouth Center for World Religions and Ethical Thought (MCWRET) and the Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County, the event has its origins in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001. In anguish and sorrow, people came together from different cultural and faith traditions to proclaim and celebrate their rich diversity. The healing effect of the evening led the group to repeat the event with presentations over the last 11 years from the Muslim, Jain, Christian, Baha’i, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, Native American, Buddhist and UU communities.
Children are especially welcome to attend. The program is free and refreshments will be provided.
Additional information is available by contacting Esmat Mahmoud at 732-371-5412 or Sally Elsadek at 848-702-1085 or visiting the website at www.interfaith-mcwret.org.
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Monmouth Cares and the Social Action Film Series invites the public to attend a free screening of “Fixing the Future” at 6 p.m. Dec. 8, at 1475 West Front Street (uucmc.org), Lincroft.
“Fixing the Future” documents a road trip by PBS correspondent David Brancaccio seeking out people and organizations across America that are reinventing the economy through focusing on local solutions. Sustainable and innovative approaches to work and growth offer hope and renewal in challenging times.
Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, call Dan Ciaglia, 732-284-6312.
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The Middletown PBA 124 Toy Drive kicks off at the North-South Thanksgiving Day Game at High School South.
New unwrapped toys can be brought to the game.
The North and South Booster Clubs will be assisting with the collection.
Toys also can be brought to the Middletown Police Department anytime until Dec. 20. Headquarters is located at Town Hall, 1 Kings Highway.
Toys will be donated to Middletown Helps Its Own, Jason’s Dreams and 180 Turning Lives Around.
Twenty-Plus Restaurants join Holiday Flavour Dec. 5
RED BANK – Red Bank Flavour, a culinary campaign driven by the borough’s top chefs, restaurateurs and proprietors, will tempt foodies to flirt with their senses this holiday season at the second annual Holiday Flavour event.
The event will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at The Molly Pitcher Inn.
Holiday Flavour will feature more than 20 of the town’s most popular restaurants and eateries at an exquisite culinary affair. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit The Parker Family Health Center, Red Bank PBA Local 39 McCarthy’s Children Fund and the Red Bank Flavour Culinary Alliance.
This year, in addition to the samplings from Red Bank eateries, foodies will have a chance to win a special, multicourse tasting menu, curated by award-winning Chef Tom Colicchio, with wine pairings for two in the main dining room at Colicchio & Sons.
“Holiday Flavour is yet another occasion to bring our community together in celebration of Red Bank’s culture and cuisine, while also raising awareness for nonprofit organizations that support our local community, “said Valerie Aufiero of Red Bank’s Front Street Trattoria. “As members of the hospitality industry, we all are very excited to welcome gourmands from around the region to celebrate the season while giving back to two very important nonprofit entities.” Hosted in The Molly Pitcher Inn’s ballrooms overlooking the Navesink, Holiday Flavour will invite guests to sip and sample a palatable array of cuisine and cocktails. The charitable evening will include live music, a tree lighting, carolers and a winter wonderland on the hotel’s waterfront promenade. Additionally, a charity grab bag and outdoor hot chocolate bar, compliments of the Red Bank Starbucks, will be offered to guests.
Tickets are $45 in advance and $55 at the door.
For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.RedBankFlavour.com.
N.J. Vietnam Veterans’ Foundation Announces 2014 Scholarship Program
HOLMDEL – Graduating seniors have until 5 p.m. Friday, April 11 to submit their applications and essays to qualify for one of two scholarships offered by the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation. The scholarships, each in the amount of $2,500, will be awarded to high school seniors from New Jersey who plan to further their education either at a college or university or trade/technical school.
Winners will be notified in early May and will be awarded the scholarship on Monday, May 26, during the Memorial Day ceremony held at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial.
In addition to the scholarship application and proof of acceptance to a college or trade school, all applicants must submit an essay about his or her visit to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, located off the Garden State Parkway at exit 116.
Applications may be mailed, faxed to 732-335-1107, or delivered to the NJVVM Scholarship Program, 1 Memorial Lane, P.O. Box 648, Holmdel, NJ 07733. Applications postmarked prior to the April 11 due date, but received after the deadline, will not be accepted.
For more information about the scholarship program and to download an application, visit www.njvvmf.org or call 732- 335-0033, ext. 100.
